Severus Snape had died in that fateful day of 98, in a war he never expected to survive. Of that there was no doubt. Especially not in Tobias Prince's mind. At least, not until he stumbled upon the former British Minister of Magic sprawled in her own vomit on the floor of a cosy café in Nolita.
Andy crouched over the woman, cradling her up with one harm and offering her a glass of water with the other.
— Shush, don't worry Jean, everything is okay. Just drink a sip of water for now. You need it if you don't want to collapse again.
Andy was reassuring the woman who seemed to be frantically slurring something about not calling 911.
He was a good kid. One of « his » kids, one of the first he had helped throughout the years, and if he was to be honest, probably the one he was the most proud of. And that was not the first time Andy had called him to help rescue someone else, most of the time young outcasts of the magical community, but sometimes no-maj too, and on tow occurrences, cats.
This one was just one more drifting soul, apparently a witch from what the boy had hinted at over the phone, a little older than their usual protégés. Someone he thought was famous he had texted between his first casual call and his second more frantic one when the woman had fainted on him.
— I promise I won't call 911 Jean, but you have to drink water for now ok? Is there someone I can call for you? What was your name again?
If he had recognized her sooner, he would probably had turn back on his heel, and texted Andy he could help him support her from afar but could not get involved.
He could have gone on with his quiet redeemed life. At least if she had made any other answer to the boy's question.
— Snape, she croaked.
Tobias froze tow steps from the woman, the uncanny coincidence sending a shiver through his spine.
— My name is Snape, she repeated as if she was unsure of it and trying to convince her-self.
— Ok Miss Snape, drink that up, and I'll help you to the bathroom to get you a bit cleaned up. Is that a deal?
She apparently agreed, and lifted her head. That's when it hit him. He was not sure he would have recognized the England's ex-MoM, and there was not much left from the insufferable yet brilliant know-it-all in her tired puffed face, but he knew those haunted hazel eyes. They were the last he had seen before he died, a lifetime ago.
And just like that Severus Snape was conjured back to life. And Tobias Prince was not happy with it.
— Ah, Uncle Toby, you're here! Thanks, Man! Could you help me to get Miss Snape here back on her feet? She had a small disagreeable episode just now.
He was unable to move at first. Paralyzed by irrational fear. Flashbacks from his previous forgotten life pass before his eyes. Why did the bloody woman used his former name for Magic sake?
Until he saw the worries on Andy's face, and the expression of pure angst of Madam Hermione Granger-Weasley just before she passed out for the second time. He blinked, shook his head, and sprung into action.
A short one, because I really should be working on my urgent deadline instead of writing this!
But I was unable to help it :)
A huge thank you to my first two followers, you made my day!